Moral Panics (310-0-2)

Instructors

Abby Barefoot
847/467-0259

Meeting Info

Technological Institute M177: Mon, Wed 11:00AM - 12:20PM

Overview of class

How and why do some issues, real or imagined, get blown out of proportion? In this course, we will explore what moral panics are, how they occur, and how we respond to them via legislation and policing within the context of the United States. We will think intersectionally, analyzing how race, class, gender, sexuality, and ability shape who or what is seen as "dangerous" or ‘deviant." Along the way, we will develop a robust theoretical toolkit, combining an interdisciplinary range of perspectives from critical criminology, sociolegal scholarship, cultural studies, and creative non-fiction journalism to help us recognize and critique dubious claims.

Learning Objectives

-Analyze how social and political forces intersect with gender, race, class, and sexuality to shape anxieties that fuel moral panics within the United States.

-Define and apply key analytical concepts as they relate to gender, sexuality, race and social status.

-Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of social science theories related to the study of Moral Panics with particular attention to sociolegal theoretical approaches.

-Develop the ability to critique theories, claims, and policies in the social and behavioral sciences through careful evaluation of an argument's major assertions, assumptions, evidential basis, and explanatory utility.

-Reflect upon the way in which theories and research from the social and behavioral sciences help elucidate the factors that led to the development and sustaining of specific moral panics as well as potential solutions.

-Craft text-based and verbal analyses of assigned course media—and extend this analysis to individually-selected case studies and contexts.

Class Materials (Required)

No Textbook, all materials will be uploaded to Canvas.

Class Attributes

Social and Behavioral Science Foundational Discipl
U.S. Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity
Social & Behavioral Sciences Distro Area

Associated Classes

DIS - Parkes Hall 215: Wed 1:00PM - 1:50PM

DIS - Parkes Hall 215: Wed 2:00PM - 2:50PM